Portable power tool and mounting



Dec. 1, 1936. A, A 2,062,520

PORTABLE POWER TOOL AND MOUNTING Filed Feb. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ART/(0W mum/n Mn ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 1936. A M L 2,062,520

PORTABLE POWER TOOL AND MOUNTING Filed Feb. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 46 30 26 3/ 53 46 x 42 v i l 26 l 46 a /2 4 l4 /4 p 4o 40 36 Q INVENTOR. flan/01? W/LL/AM MALL ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to flexible shaft power units, power tools and like devices of the type generally used for grinding, sanding and finishing, although units of this same general class are now utilized in a great many varied industries.

These units generally comprise an electric motor mounted upon a suitable base and having a flexible shaft extending therefrom having a grinding wheel, buffer, sander or other suitable tool secured to the end thereof. In the devices of the prior art, bases or frames have been provided constructed in various different ways to meet different requirements. For example, pedestals or bases of various heights are provided for different types of work. Vertical hanger bail mountings for ceiling suspension are provided and special motor mountings for supporting a motor in a vertical position are also provided.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved portable device of. the class specified.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved portable device of the class described that is simple in construction, extremely light, highly durable and one that cannot be easily broken or worn out even by hard and unreasonable usage.

A further object of my invention is to provide in an improved portable device of this type a 36 universal motor mounting by the use of which the motor may be set in either a horizontal or vertical position as desired, and one wherein the center of gravity of the unit will be centrally spaced between the supports thereof in either position.

Another object is to provide an improved universal mounting capable of supporting the motor upon suitable pivots so the same may be revolved through approximately 360, thus affording power access in a complete circular area around the motor.

Another object is to support the pivotally mounted motor in this manner in an upright position, a horizontal position or suspended from above.

Another object is to provide an improved motor base assembly having improved means thereon for supporting a tool attached to the take-off end of the flexible shaft when not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simplified portable device of the class described, constructed of strap metal so arranged and secured together that a rugged, durable construction is provided, yet the same is comparatively cheap and inexpensive to build.

A further object is to provide an improved portable motor and tool support constructed entirely of strap metal riveted or welded together to form an integral unit.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein 5 reference is had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure l is a view in perspective, showing my improved motor mounting with a motor, flexible shaft, and sanding disk attached to the end of 1.0 the flexible shaft;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the motor and mount- Figure 3 is a detail view showing one of the upright strap members for supporting a tool;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the motor mounting or carriage and motor;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of the same parts, illustrating the motor in a horizontal position;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the upright members for supporting working tools; and

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the assembly, showing the manner in which the motor can be swung through an arc of approximately 360,

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I provide a carriage I0 which has a motor l 2 pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end thereof. The motor i2 is provided with a flexible shaft M of any desired length, which carries at its outer end a working tool, such as the sanding disk it, mounted upon the handle portion la. The frame or carriage l0 may be constructed of portions of strap metal formed 5 and secured together as an integral unit to provide a motor support. Accordingly, I provide two pairs of leg members 26 and 22 which are formed with vertical portions terminating in inwardly turned flanges 24 to provide feet to which casters 26 may be suitably attached. The upper ends of the leg members 20 and 22 are inwardly turned, as shown, and secured to the vertical strap members 28 and 3!]. The upper ends of the leg members are adapted to be secured by 45,

rivets 32 and also by welding to the straps so that an integral unit is formed from the several parts.

At a point adjacent the lower ends of the leg members 2i! and 22 I provide a pair of crossbraces in the form of U-shaped strap members 34 and 36 secured together intermediate the frame by suitable rivets so and secured to the vertical portions of the leg members by suitable rivets 40.

The upright strap members 28 and 30 are provided with aligned openings 42 within which suitable pivot bolts M are journalled. The pivot bolts screw-threadedly engage stud members 46 secured to opposite sides of the motor l2 and, as thus assembled, the motor is pivotally mounted between the side members 30 and 28 of the motor frame.

The. vertical strap member 3i] may be outwardly extended, as shown at 48, and provided with a vertical portion which, as shown in Figure 5, is so positioned that the frame it) may be laid upon its side bearing upon the sides of legs 20 and the portion 50, and thus support a motor in a horizontal position. Due to the length of portion 50 and the distance from the center line or the motor, the motor is balanced and a very satisfactory base is thus formed for the motor. The strap 3 is also provided with an open-ended socket 52 for the purpose of supporting a tool holder when the device is not in use.

The upright strap member 28, previously described, is formed with a portion 29 extended at right-angles thereto and formed with the fingers 3| and 33 upon opposite sides of an open socket 35. This member is so constructed for the purpose of supporting the tool holder [8 or any other larger tool which it is not convenient to place in the socket 52 of the strap member 30.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a comparatively simple and inexpensive. frame or carriage has been provided. Due to the welding and riveting to provide an integral construction, the device is able to withstand rough handling in spite of the lightness of its construction. It is of course understood that the casters 26 may be of the universal type so that the carriage may be drawn or swung around in any direction. They may also be mounted in ball bearings so that the unit is easily transportable.

The sockets which I have described may act as Vises or holders to support the tool holder so that a tool may be unfastened therefrom and a different tool fastened thereto. A further use for the flared ends of socket 52 is to support the tubular end of the flexible shaft when there is no tool attached thereto.

With a construction as thus described, it can be seen that a portable frame or carriage and motor support has been provided, by the use of which the power unit may be pulled around in shops from one job to another. The strain of this pulling action is not sufli-cient to cause any weakening of the connection between the casing of the flexible shaft and the motor, due to the manner in which the shaft is attached to the motor and also to the fact that the motor is pivotally mounted and will automatically align itself with the direction of pull. It will also be apparent that the motor may be pulled around with the tool holder l8 mounted in one of the sockets provided, in which case the strain will be equally divided between the motor pivots and the holder.

From the showing of Figure 7, it can be seen that the motor may be swung through an arc of approximately 360 so that the working tool may be used in most any desirable location in the vicinity of the motor. This result obviously obtains whether the unit is positioned upon the rollers 26 or upon its side, as shown in Figure 5. It will further be apparent that the motor frame and motor may be suspended from a nail, ladder or other support as by hooking through the two U-shaped strap members 34 and .36 andagain the motor will be pivotally mounted and free to swing in any desired direction.

The device is capable of many and varied uses, and it will be understood that numerous difierent tools, such as drills, files, scrapers, buffers, etc., may be applied instead of the tool shown in the drawings.

While I have illustrated and described a specific form of my invention, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made from the exact construction shown without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited in any particular, rather, what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A motor carriage comprising a frame constructed of strap metal members having a plurality of leg portions formed thereon and extending outwardly and downwardly, casters secured in the lower ends of said leg portions, said strap members converging inwardly in pairs at their upper ends, upright strap members secured to each of said pairs, motor bearings formed in said strap members, a pair of arcuately shaped strap metal cross-braces connecting the lower ends of said leg portions, one of said upright strap members forming a support parallel with the outer edge of one set of legs whereby when the carriage is placed on its side the bearings are vertically positioned to mount a motor centrally between the supports therefor, said strap member formed with jaws to support tool members thereon.

2. A motor carriage comprising a frame constructed of strap metal members having a plurality of leg portions formed thereon and extending outwardly and downwardly, casters secured in the lower ends of said leg portions, said strap members converging inwardly in pairs at their upper ends; upright strap members secured to each of said pairs, motor bearings formed in said strap members, a pair of arcuately shaped strap metal cross-braces connecting the lower ends of said leg portions, one of said upright strap members forming a support parallel with the outer edge of one set of legs whereby when the carriage is placed on its side the bearings are vertically positioned to mount a motor centrally between the supports therefor, said strap members having jaw portions at their outer ends for supporting work tools.

3. A portable power unit comprising a frame or carriage constructed of flat metal strap members, riveted and welded together to form an integral unit, a motor pivotally mounted thereon, a flexible shaft extending therefrom, a tool attached to the end thereof and means on said carriage for supporting said tool, said means comprising a vertical strap member formed with a right angle bend and a forked member extended therefrom.

4. A portable power unit comprising a frame or carriage constructed of flat metal strap members riveted and welded together to form an integral unit, a motor pivotally mounted thereon, a flexible shaft extending therefrom, a tool attached to the end thereof, and means on both sides of said carriage for supporting said tool, said means comprising flat strap members extended from said motor bearings, one of said members formed with a forked end and the other having a right angle portion formed with a hook portion.

5. A device-of the class specified, comprising a strap metal frame, a plurality of leg portions extending downwardly therefrom, casters mounted at the ends thereof, the upper ends of said frame extending vertically and having openings therein, a motor, a pair of studs extending through said openings and secured to said motor, a flexible shaft extending from said motor, a tool mounted on the end of said shaft, and strap metal means extending upward from said frame and formed with a socket for rigidly supporting the take-01f end of said shaft or supporting said motor in a horizontal position.

6. A device of the class specified, comprising a strap metal frame, a plurality of depending leg portions thereon, casters mounted on inturned flanges at the lower ends thereof, the upper ends of said frames extended vertically and having openings therein, a motor, a pair of studs extending through said openings into said motor, a flexible shaft extending from said motor, a tool mounted on the end of said shaft and strap metal means extending upwardly from said frame, said means formed with upwardly extending fingers forming a yoke in the end thereof for supporting said tool in an inoperative position or for rigidly supporting the take-01f end of said shaft so that a tool can be either fastened thereto or unfastened therefrom.

ARTHUR WILLIAM MALL. 

